LPG / NGL
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LPG supply shock exposes clean cooking users: IEA
LPG supply shock exposes clean cooking users: IEA
Nearly half of LPG users in sub-Saharan Africa are now spending more of their income on cooking fuel, write Efcharis Sgourou and Matt Scotland London, 2 June (Argus) — The Mideast Gulf LPG supply crisis is disrupting access to LPG as a clean cooking fuel among some of the world's most vulnerable people, meaning many will turn back to more harmful fuels without targeted policy action, the IEA has warned. Around 3.4bn people across the developing world rely on LPG for cooking, putting them in a precarious position because of supply shortages and surging prices, the IEA says in a recent report. The effective closure of the strait of Hormuz, through which around 30pc of global seaborne LPG trade transits, has sharply reduced supply and pushed international prices up to record highs . The nascent LPG markets of sub-Saharan Africa are particularly exposed despite their limited dependence on Middle Eastern supply — more than two-thirds arrives from the US — because of surging import costs and household consumers' low wages. Markets that lack price regulation are especially exposed by volatile international benchmarks, the IEA says. Around 45pc of LPG users in sub-Saharan Africa are now spending a higher share of their income on cooking fuel, with one in eight seeing costs increase to more than 10pc of their income, the report finds. "Emerging evidence suggests that rising LPG costs are already weakening sustained use and increasing the risk of fuel stacking or reversion to traditional fuels [like firewood or charcoal]," the IEA's energy analyst for Africa and co-author of the report, Marina Petrelli, says. Although data on the current crisis remains limited, "without mitigation, recent price increases could reverse some of the progress made on clean cooking access", she says. Governments in the near term need to release emergency oil stocks and boost domestic LPG output where possible, as well as prioritise household cooking over industrial use, the IEA says. They should also look at introducing price caps, subsidies and tax cuts to maintain affordability, as well as fuel rationing, supply prioritisation and fuel switching measures, Petrelli says. "[Valued-added tax] removal or price regulation varies significantly across countries... but they are often the first measures considered as they have the advantage of being relatively straightforward to implement, requiring less administrative capacity than more targeted support schemes." Petrelli says. The report notes the lack of strategic reserves in countries with cooking fuel markets, highlighting the need for investment in new LPG storage infrastructure to protect themselves from future crises and strengthen supply security. Few major consuming regions have storage capacity covering more than 75 days of demand, while sub-Saharan Africa holds storage equivalent to 33 days of consumption that is concentrated in a few countries. Accelerating the adoption of electric cooking can also help to lessen dependence on LPG imports, the IEA says. Refugee camps in peril A separate report from non-governmental organisation Acaps has also highlighted the impact the supply crisis is having on refugee camps where LPG is used for cooking. In Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar refugee camp, where more than 1mn stateless Rohingya refugees are based, LPG has been used in place of firewood since 2018. The country received 90-95pc of its LPG imports via the strait of Hormuz, putting these consumers at risk of fuel shortages at camps that are unable to pay higher prices, Acaps says. Addressing these issues requires targeted policy responses. The IEA has created a tool to assess how clean cooking policies affect household affordability and government finances. "Our tool is designed to guide countries in navigating these trade-offs, notably by assessing the impact of tax reforms, which can offer immediate price signals to support uptake while longer-term efforts focus on strengthening the capacity for targeted support," Petrelli says. Sub-Saharan Africa LPG storage capacity Sub-Saharan African LPG storage facilities Sub-Saharan Africa LPG import Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India asks refiners to establish 30-day LPG reserve
India asks refiners to establish 30-day LPG reserve
State-run refiners have ramped up purchases from the US and now must draft a plan exploring all possible storage options, writes Rituparna Ghosh Mumbai, 2 June (Argus) — The Indian government has directed state-controlled refiners to establish an LPG storage reserve covering 30 days of demand as shipping disruptions continue to restrict imports from the Middle East, according to petroleum ministry joint secretary Sujata Sharma. The reserve is likely to require the three refiners, which control the domestic LPG market, to ramp up imports from non-Middle Eastern sources having already pivoted to cargoes from the US on top of existing term contracts. The ministry has asked the refiners to draft a plan exploring all possible storage options, including floating storage. The volume required under the 30-day reserve has not been disclosed but it is likely to be around 2.8mn t based on LPG consumption of about 92,000 t/d, oil ministry data show. The refiners — IOC, BPCL and HPCL — typically store LPG at their import terminals, with combined capacity of around 1mn t and emergency stocks only expected to last as little as 10 days , market participants said just after the Iran war started. The government does not provide data on domestic LPG inventories. The refiners have ramped up spot purchases from the US and deployed time-chartered vessels to the US Gulf coast, some of which transited the strait of Hormuz in April. This is on top of term deals for 2.2mn t of US LPG imports in 2026 . India's LPG imports fell to 1.2mn t in May, nearly half of the country's average intake of closer to 2mn t/month prior to the Iran war, Kpler data show. Domestic LPG production from refineries rose to a record high of 52,000 t/day in May from 50,000 t/d in April, Sharma says, as refineries optimised LPG yields as well as diverting any used as a petrochemical feedstock back to the domestic market. But India's LPG demand is shrinking, dropping by 22pc on the month in March and 8pc in April to less than 2.2mn t as the country continues to grapple with supply shortages . India LPG imports Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Union begins strikes at Australia's Ichthys LNG: Update
Union begins strikes at Australia's Ichthys LNG: Update
Adds statement from Inpex in paragaph 5 Sydney, 2 June (Argus) — The union representing oil and gas workers at the 9.3mn t/yr Ichthys LNG project near Australia's northern city of Darwin began strikes from 6am Australian Western Standard Time today (10pm GMT 1 June), according to the Offshore Alliance (OA) union. Protected industrial action authorised by members in April has started despite significant progress in talks between the union and project operator Japan's Inpex that led to delays to planned work stoppages last week, the OA said. The strike action includes union members downing tools between 6am and 8am and 6pm and 8pm, and bans on overcycle, working past 6am on demobilisation day, and swapping between day shift and night shift without at least four weeks' notice from management. All three Inpex facilities will be disrupted by stoppages of work and work bans, including the onshore processing facilities and LNG terminal at Darwin harbour, the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) and central processing facility (CPF) units. Management remains committed to engaging in good faith to reach a fair and equitable agreement, maintaining safe operations and ensuring reliable energy supply, Inpex's senior vice-president Bill Townsend said. The OA has served a further notice to Inpex setting out more strikes to occur from 11-23 June but the union remains committed to negotiating and pausing industrial action should Inpex return to genuine bargaining, it said. Ichthys can also produce about 100,000 b/d of condensate and 1.65mn t/yr of LPG, shipping about 1.36mn t of LPG in 2025. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iran, US dispute status of Hormuz in draft deal: Update
Iran, US dispute status of Hormuz in draft deal: Update
Updates with US comments, other details London, 27 May (Argus) — A draft agreement to end the war between the US and Iran includes a pledge from Tehran to return the number of commercial ships passing the strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday. But President Donald Trump later on Wednesday pushed back against Tehran's assertion of control over Hormuz and other Iranian demands. Crude futures fell sharply after the report by Iranian broadcaster IRIB, with front-month Ice Brent approaching $94/bl, the lowest intraday level since 21 April. Prices subsequently regained some ground. IRIB said it had seen a "first draft" of a 14-point agreement that said "managing the passage of ships… and receiving fees for services remains at the discretion of [Iran], which will work in co-operation with Oman". In return, IRIB said the US has pledged to lift the maritime blockade on Iran, and has agreed to "make a commitment" on the issue of its military presence in countries neighbouring Iran. The IRIB report contains no mention of agreement on other key issues, like Iran's nuclear programme, or on the repatriation of funds to Tehran. Iranian officials previously indicated they are eyeing the return of its funds frozen in foreign banks under US mandates. Trump, in televised remarks at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said he expects the strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately if an agreement is signed. "The strait (of Hormuz) is going to be open to everybody," Trump said. "We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it, nobody's going to control it." Tehran has touted a joint Iranian-Omani mechanism to control navigation through Hormuz. "It's international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, and we'll have to blow them up," Trump said. "They understand that. They'll be fine." Iran should not count on immediate relief of US sanctions or repatriation of funds, Trump said. "We're not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money," Trump said. "We'll keep control of that money. When they behave properly, and when they do what's right, we'll let them have their money, but right now we're not doing that." By Nader Itayim, Ben Winkley and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
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